Location: The Old District – The Black Market (Underground).
Time: Evening of the first day in the capital.The Old District was a labyrinth of narrow alleys and tightly packed buildings that blocked out the moonlight. Here, the Guild's laws did not apply. Information brokers, dealers in stolen artifacts, and exiled mages gathered in secrecy.Lirion led the team through a narrow passage until they reached a rotting wooden door marked with the drawing of a bird without eyes. Lirion knocked three times in a specific rhythm.The door opened to reveal an old man with one eye and thick glasses that magnified his remaining eye to a terrifying size. This was "Caleidos," the most famous information broker in the capital."Lost children in a dangerous place," Caleidos said in a voice resembling the creaking of a hinge. "What do you want? Information? Poisons? Or a new identity?""Information about the Guild Tower," Lirion said directly, placing a pouch of pure crystals on the table. "Specifically, about the abandoned section attached to the main tower."Caleidos gave a dry laugh. "The abandoned section? Boy, that place is guarded by spells from the era of the First Emperor. Not even a fly can enter without permission.""Not a fly," Lirion said, pulling the black shard from his pocket and placing it on the table. "But perhaps this key opens other doors."Caleidos's expression changed instantly. The mockery vanished, replaced by fear mixed with greed. He leaned closer to the shard without touching it."Where did you get this?" he whispered. "This... is technology of the 'Silent Ones.' Those who craft these leave no trace.""That is none of your concern," Lirion cut him off. "I want a map of the back entrance to the abandoned section. An entrance that magical sensors do not monitor."Caleidos looked at Lirion for a long time, then at the team behind him."The price is double what you placed," he said finally. "But I will add a warning for free: the tower is not guarded by soldiers alone. There are 'eyes' in the walls themselves. If you use high-level magic, the ground will collapse beneath you."Lirion agreed and paid the extra crystals. He took an old paper scroll from Caleidos."Good luck, Shard Bearer," Caleidos said as he quickly closed the door. "You will need it more than you imagine."The team emerged into the dark alley."Who are the 'Silent Ones'?" Garek asked."I don't know yet," Lirion replied, unrolling the scroll. It was a detailed map showing old sewage tunnels leading directly to the foundations of the abandoned tower. "But they use the same shard technology we saw in the monsters. They and the cult searching for the shards are two sides of the same coin."Lirion looked at the map. A red line indicated a complex path."Tomorrow night, we move," he decided. "Today, we buy infiltration gear and practice suppressing our magical auras."